OUR Last Orders On Glass campaign has been given a massive boost after another police force told pubs and clubs in a North city to use polycarbonate containers.

It follows an horrific attack on Laurie Baxter, 20, who was blinded in his right eye after an unprovoked glassing in a pub in Hull in April.

His attacker, Zack Gibson, 21, was jailed for six and a half years after admitting causing the injury.

Under the initiative by Humberside police, two nightclubs and a number of bars around Hull city centre have swapped from traditional glass to polycarbonates recently . . . and police have said it has already been a success.

Detective Constable Ian Spain of Humberside Police said: “For 10 years in my CID career I have been investigating people being injured and disfigured permanently, and seeing a lad lose his sight.

“The effects of people smashing a glass and putting it in someone’s face and neck are horrendous.

“Polycarbonate does not break and, although it can cause bruising, it cannot be a weapon.”

PC Gary Parker, licensing officer for Humberside Police, added: “All the licensing officers in the force actively promote the use of polycarbonate glasses, particularly in fashion premises where you have a high volume of people who stand up and drink.

“There are two clubs and increasing numbers of bars that have gone polycarbonate. We are getting positive feedback from all the bar operators in Hull in terms of safety to customers and staff, and their durability is longer than glass.

“They make sense to health and safety, and we’ve drunk pints out of them and there is no difference.

“It is a win-win situation all the way through.”

The Sunday Sun launched its campaign for city centre pubs and clubs to swap to polycarbonate containers after a series of vicious glassings around North bars left victims scarred for life.

We already have the backing of MPs, club bosses and local police forces.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Police, which has introduced a similar initiative through its Best Bar None scheme, has spent #20,000 on polycarbonate glasses to give to clubs and bars.

Sergeant Richard Hurt said: “The polycarbonate glasses have been a great success so far, with very positive feedback from all the venues trialling the product. Many customers were taken by surprise when they were informed they were drinking from a ‘plastic glass’.

“The majority of the venues have already commented on how much better the new stock is because it means there is no broken glass to deal with.

“It would seem that by replacing conventional glasses with the new plastic ones, the number of glass-related incidents where offenders smash glasses before attacking victims, is already on the decrease.

“Also on the decrease are injuries caused by people falling on broken glasses that may be on the dance floor. Plus, these glasses will actually keep the drink cold for longer and feel the same as regular glasses.

“This trial is already proving to some doubters that polycarbonate glasses may be the way forward in certain premises.”